From adult beverage tastings to an anti-Super Bowl party spread, add these five events to your food and drink roster, which already includes drink specials, Mardi Gras celebrations, the Bacon Battle and Localtopia.
Hosted at Nielsen from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, the second year for Sampling Science: The Engineering Behind Craft Beer will feature 50-plus local craft beers for tasting alongside educational beer talks. The proceeds will benefit the student chapters of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the University of South Florida's Society of Women Engineers. Tickets will be sold at the door. $30. 501 Brooker Creek Blvd., Oldsmar, beakersandbrews.com.
Embrace the wonders of citrus at this Aprons Cooking School lesson, also hosted at 6:30 p.m. Friday. New techniques will be taught, and all levels of home cooks are welcome. Orange and pilsner mussels, lemon sorbet and lemon-thyme poached chicken are on the menu. Check out CL news editor Kate Bradshaw's piece on Florida's citrus industry while you're at it. $45. 7835 Gunn Highway, Tampa, 813-926-4465.
Close to 100 offerings will be on hand at Cajun Cafe on the Bayou's annual Cider & Mead Festival between 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday. Ciders from Spain, Belgium, the U.S. and other locales are planned, as well as palate cleaners and other fruit-flavored brews, some of which are from New Glarus Brewing. As always, a Cajun plate and other bites are included with admission, and a Dunedin Doggie Rescue fundraiser will coincide with the event. $50 in advance, $65 at the gate. 8101 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, 727-546-6732.
Join Ferg's Sports Bar in helping support the Second Time Arounders Marching Band while enjoying all-you-can-sample chili and two beers from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Additional brews cost $1, and raffles will include Dali Museum and Straz Center for the Performing Arts tickets, an autographed Tampa Bay Lightning stick and resort stays. Expect a silent auction, too. $12. 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-488-4299.
Part of The Stuart Society's Wine, Whiskey and Wonder event, a jazz brunch is set to showcase music from the Tampa Bay Music Ensemble, bubbly and brunch by Olympia Catering & Events. The gathering will be hosted at the Museum of Fine Arts' Marly Room and gardens during two seatings, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available online. $125. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg.
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2016.